Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2022 - 9

RULES PRIMER
Moving Violations
Anything can happen when your golf ball is on the move-
here's the correct procedure when it comes to rest.
G
olf is played outdoors with other
people who carry objects
in
order to play the game, and the golf
ball is known to take some strange
and unintended bounces. Therefore,
the game of golf has a Rule for that:
Rule 11 " Ball in Motion Accidentally
Hits Person, Animal or Object;
Deliberate Actions to Affect Ball
in Motion. "
Rule 11 explains the procedure if
a player's ball in motion hits a person,
animal, piece of equipment or
anything else on the course. If that
occurs accidentally, there is no penalty
and the player must accept the
result, whether favorable or not. In
most cases, play the ball from where
it comes to rest. (Rule 11 also restricts
a player from deliberately taking
actions to affect where any ball in
motion might come to rest, but that is
not addressed here.)
For example, a player plays a
* BY BILL HOMEYER *
Golf balls can come to rest in some amazing
places. Rule 11 explains how to proceed.
stroke, and the ball accidentally hits
any person (including the player, the
player's caddie, their partner, opponent or any equipment) or an
outside infl uence. There is no penalty to the player, and the ball
is to be played from where it came to rest. (Exception: In stroke
play, if a player's ball hits another ball at rest on the putting green
and both balls were on the putting green before the stroke, the
player gets a two-stroke penalty, and the player's ball is played
from where it came to rest. The other ball must be replaced.)
There are two additional situations where the player does not
end up playing the ball as it lies after it accidentally hits something.
First: When a player plays a ball from anywhere except the
putting green, and the ball comes to rest on any person (the ball
goes into a spectator's backpack), animal (a dog picks up the ball)
or moving outside infl uence (a ball comes to rest on a golf cart or
the back of a moving maintenance vehicle), the ball must not be
played as it lies, and the player must take relief.
If a player's ball was on the putting green when a dog picked
it up, the player will estimate the spot right under where the
ball fi rst rest in the dog's mouth and place a ball there. If the
ball was anywhere except the putting green when it came to
rest in the dog's mouth, the player must drop a ball within one
club-length (not nearer the hole) of the estimated spot where
the ball fi rst came to rest in the dog's mouth. See Rule 14.3 for
the correct procedure.
Second: When a ball is played from the putting green, the
stroke does not count, and the player must place a ball on the
spot of the original stroke (e.g., a ball hitting another player, a
ball hitting a dropped scorecard or a ball hitting a dog).
At the risk of adding confusion, there are two exceptions to the
Second situation (ball played from putting green). 1) If a ball in
motion accidentally hits the fl agstick or person attending it, there
is no penalty, and the ball is played as it lies, see Rule 13.2b (2).
2) If a ball in motion hits another ball at rest or a ball-marker on
the putting green, the stroke counts, and the ball must be played
as it lies. As we mentioned earlier, in stroke play, if the player's
ball hits another ball that was at rest on the putting green before
the stroke, the player will get two penalty strokes.
mngolf.org
Spring 2022 MINNESOTAGOLFER
9
PHOTO: KARAMYSH/SHUTTERSTOCK
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2022

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